This paper is an overview of the IGU Thematic conference “Practical Geography and Challenges of the XXI Century” dedicated to the centennial of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences and held in Moscow on June 4–6, 2018. The conference gathered over 750 participants from 37 countries. Its vast scientific program was in particular focused on adaptation of nature and society to climate change. Much attention was paid to such themes as urbanization and urban geography, population mobility, the developments in polar areas, water resources and their use, political geography and border studies, the perspectives of mountain territories, the organization and the functioning of natural parks and reserves. Special symposia were devoted to the formation of “Big Eurasia” and the implementation of Chinese “One Belt – One Road” initiative, and to geographical education shaping the knowledge and skills vitally important for citizens of the XXI century. The papers submitted to the conference concerned the territories of different size, which corresponds to the multi-scale character of geographical problems and approaches used in contemporary geographical studies.